PETALING
JAYA: The PAS-led Kelantan Government’s decision
to extend its ban on gambling to the Big Sweep
lottery tickets has been widely condemned.

Describing
the move as inconsistent and tactless towards
non-Muslims, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng
Yen Yen said the lottery was not new and had
existed for a long time.

“It brought
no problem in the past, so why now? The ban
shows how insensitive the Kelantan government is
towards non-Muslims,” she said.

Another
party vice-president Datuk Chor Chee Heung said
PAS should concentrate on bigger problems faced
by the Kelantanese.

“The
extended ban on Big Sweep lottery tickets will
go a long way to cover up the state government’s
weaknesses in other areas,” said Chor.

MCA Youth
chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the DAP should
explain PAS’ action, adding that the ban did not
support DAP’s assurance that PAS was now more
open-minded.

Kelana
Jaya MCA division chief Ong Chong Swen
said selling lottery tickets in Malaysia was a
legitimate commercial transaction and the ban
would cause Kelantanese to buy lottery tickets
in Terengganu as well as encourage illegal
sales.

Also calling
the DAP to state its stand on the issue was
Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang.

“It is a
clear indication of what will happen if PAS
comes to power,” he said.

Kita
president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said PAS’ move was
not wise as the ban would bring no political
mileage to its party.

“People are
warming up to them as a party that could replace
Umno in the future. This infringes on the rights
of Malaysians,” he said.

Suaram
chairman K. Arumugam said PAS shouldn’t try to
import Syariah Law into civil law, adding that
the move was constitutionally incorrect and
definitely infringed on the rights of
non-Muslims.

Gerakan
president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon said Merlimau and
Kerdau voters had been told to weigh PAS’ ban on
lottery as an indication of things to come.

The DAP and
Suhakam were the only two parties that agree
with PAS’ move.

DAP Segambut
MP Lim Lip Eng said that as a democratic nation,
Malaysians should abide by the wishes of the
majority and in the case of Kelantan he believed
the Muslims were the majority although the move
infringed on the rights of non-Muslims.